Brock Lesnar's New Contract Makes Wrestlemania 31 Worth Watching

A week ago, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar seemingly had one foot out the door, making Wrestlemania 31 a coronation for Roman Reigns.

Now, with an official announcement that Brock Lesnar re-signed with WWE, the main event at Wrestlemania 31 becomes THE reason to watch the WWE's showcase event.

Before Tuesday's announcement—broadcast live on ESPN's SportsCenter—the WWE's signature pay-per-view held little value to the diehard fans. The buildup to this event has been nonexistent, seemingly slapped together without plans for any of the company's wrestlers. Even the seven-man ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship seemed slapdash, even with standouts Dolph Ziggler and fan-favorite Daniel Bryan among the contestants.

Over the last three months, there have been only two wrestlers booked to look strong: Lesnar, who the wrestling world believed to be good as gone after Wrestlemania 31, and Vince McMahon's anointed successor, Reigns. Per Jason Martin of Cageside Seats:

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Vince McMahon long ago made his choice. Roman Reigns was set to be "The Guy" at WrestleMania 31. The entirety of the Brock Lesnar push, from crushing Big Show to the end of the Streak to the dismantling of John Cena and later of Seth Rollins was all for one end: To make him the most dominant heel since Andre the Giant, so that Vince's handpicked Samoan prince could end the Beast's reign of terror and officially usher in a new era. 

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Even if Lesnar beat Reigns in the main event, McMahon wasn't going to let The Beast Incarnate walk out of Levi's Stadium with the belt. Seth Rollins would have cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, an outcome most wrestling fans would've seen coming. It was a transparent booking that left no drama heading into Wrestlemania 31. 

That is, until Tuesday's announcement. 

That contract removes inevitability. Will Lesnar lose clean to Reigns, setting up a rematch? Will his advocate, Paul Heyman, turn on him in favor of the younger Reigns? Will Lesnar decimate Reigns, a la John Cena at Summerslam? Everything is fair game. 

With Lesnar in WWE for the long haul, the possibilities are endless. Even if the rest of the Wrestlemania 31 card underwhelms, the main event is no longer guaranteed. The final match has now been elevated to must-watch status.

And that—as WWE COO Triple H would say—is what's best for business.